USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 45
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Through march, bivouac, and battle company H ful- filled its part well, and when at Lynnville, Tenn., mounted and scouting under command of the gallant Lieutenant McNeil they were in their glory.
A miraculous escape from instant death to many of the company, will always be remembered, it occured as follows:
On the 10th of May 1864, at the south end of Snake Creek Gap, the regiment had been sent out to support company B on the skirmish line at the cross roads. The rain was falling in torrents, accompanied by heavy wind, lightning and thunder. The different companies were in bivouac on the right of the road going south, company H's position being by the side of a new house, yet unfinished, in which regimental headquarters were established. About 10 o'clock that evening peremptory
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order's were received to move inside the works at once, as the enemy were advancing up the road. As company H moved from the place it had bivouacked an immense tree fell crashing down along the place just vacated. One moment of time, and . many of the boys would have been crushed.
Our record of this company's officers is very meagre. Captain S. R. Glenn having been promoted to Major was suc- ceeded by Captain Murphy, who resigned. He was succeeded by Captain Walter S. Wait,. who also was mustered out at the expiration of his three years service.
Lieut. Isaac McNeil having been wounded at Allatoona took him away from the com- pany, leaving it without com- missioned officers during the march to the sea, and under the command of its Orderly Sergeant, J. B. Hawkes, and other Serg'ts acting as Lieu- utenants, it went through to Bentonville. Here Sergeant CAPT. WALTER S. WAIT. Hawkes gave up his life after the company had passed through a brilliant day's sorvice. At Goldsborough, N. C., April 2, 1865, under special orders, Wm. B. Fisher of company E, was assigned to command, being relieved at Louisville, Ky., by Captain McNeil, who had been commis- sioned June 14, mustered June 15 and re-joined the company there.
Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which company H existed as to commanders, in regard to drill and discipline, it was not deficient in well drilled and model soldiers. In Spe- cial Orders No. 12, Alfred Burnett, in No. 22, Francis Dixon, William Bailey, James Moody and Henry --- , in No. 32, Joshua Coffman and James Moody are excused from duty for soldierly appearance and fine conditionof arms and accoutre- ments.
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At Louisville in 1865, July 14, Sergeant Perry Logsdon was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, rice McNeil, promoted to ₱ Captain.
First Lieut. Perry Logs- don was born July 18, 1842, in Madison co., Ky .; moved to Brown co., Ill., in '44 with his parents, Enlisted from Cooperstown Dec. 1, 1861, as a private, was 18 years of age and a farmer. At Shiloh was sick with typhoid fever and in the hospital awaiting with anxiety the approach of the victorious rebels-could see the last line of our troops in the distance, stubbornly hold- ing the ground, and hear the LIEUT. PERRY LOGSDON. bullets flying around. Re- enlisted in 1864, served with the company, and promoted to Sergeant and then to 1st Lieutenant, and so mustered out. Since the war has become a prosperous and enterprising farmer and represented his county, Schuyler, several times in the State Legislature, and is now a member of the Board of Commis- sioners of a drainage district, also a member Col. Harney Post 131, at Rushville, Ill., where he resides.
James T. Atchison was born in Mt. Sterling, Ill., May 27, 1845, mustered into the service as fifer in company H, Sept. 30, 1861, at this time a little more than 16 years of age. Not be- ing satisfied as a musician, after a few months he substituted a musket, which he carried till the end of the war. Was promo- ted to Corporal, then to Sergeant, and commissioned 2nd Lieu- tenant at Louisville, Ky. Participated in all the battles of the regiment except Bentonville. At Lynnville, Tenn., when re- cruits for re-enlistment were called for, he and Wm. Queen, (now living at Mt. Sterling, ) were the first men of the company to tender their names for re-enlistment. The day following,
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Christmas '63, was detailed with 20 others of the regiment, to go home on recruiting service, and mustered as a veteran Dec. 30, '63. Returned with the regiment Feb. 28, 64, and mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 13, '65.
On returning home learned the printers' trade, which he has followed since, and is now business manager of the mechan- ical department of the Jersey County Democrat, and resides at Jerseyville, Ill. Has been prominently connected with the G. A. R. for years, having served as A. D. C. on the staff of com- mander-in-chief Veasey, twice served as Ass't Inspector of his district, and once as a member of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Or- phan Home committee. Would be glad to correspond with his old comrades.
J. P. Ammonette was a boy of 18 when he enlisted, Sept. 1, 1861, and so badly cut up at Shiloh that he was discharged at Quincy Sept. 4, 1862,
John Abbott was wounded also at the same time, while William Albert, a recruit of Dec. 1, '61, re-enlisted and was mustered out with the company as a veteran.
Matthew Bates was buried at Athens, Ala., and Andrew J. Bower went through.
Chas. F. Howser was a boy of 19 from Ripley, and enlist- ed Jan. 22, 1864. He now lives at LaCygne, Kansas.
Plumer Long enlisted in Sept. 61. Veteraned and was mustered out as a Sergeant July 13, '65.
Chauncy F. Marriotta was one of the first to enlist and was discharged Sept. 29, '6-4.
Joseph F. Marrietta was a recruit of Aug. 23, '62, and left us June 2, 1865.
Chas. W. McClure and Washington McConnell, also re- cruits of Dec. 1, '61, the first was mustered out June 22. '65, the latter veteraned and was discharged with the company. He was wounded in the leg at Bentonville and rose to the rank of Corporal.
Return R. Randall, one of the first enlistment, was dis- charged Oct. S, 1862, on account of wounds.
Georgo W. Roberts enlisted among the first, became a
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veteran, went through safely and now resides at Naples, Ill. It was thought while at Clarksville that he had the small pox. causing considerable consternation among the Surgeons, and at once causing extra sanitary measures to be taken.
Creed S. Taylor is not forgotten. He was a '64 recruit, mustered out with the boys and now lives at Lucas, Kansas.
These seven comrades came from Ripley, a town famous for its pottery manufactories.
Jas. A. Wilmot, also a recruit of '64, now resides at Hil- dreth, Neb. He was from Woodstock, McHenry co., Ill.
COMPANY I.
U NDER the call of President Lincoln for 500,000 men for three years, or during the war, Joseph D. Wolf, then a prominent lawyer of Monmouth, Warren county, III., re- ceived authority to organize a company, and during the latter part of August and early days of September, 1861, recruited some seventy men, all, with but one or two exceptions, residents of Warren county, and nearly every one of whom were young boys from the farm.
The first real movement in the way of recruiting was at . Spring Grove, seven miles north of Monmouth. Meetings were held in the U. P. Church addressed by J. D. Wolf and J. D. Cor- win of Monmouth. These meetings were continued for some time, and a good number of the boys enrolled from the north part of the county. The rendezvous of the company was at Monmouth. They were sworn into service on September 16th, 1861, and soon after were ordered to Quincy.
This company being the ninth to report was given the ninth place on the regimental roll, company I,
Of our company commanders Captains Wolf and Dunlap did not remain with us long. The first was mustered out May 1862, and the last resigned to join another command, in No- vember 1862.
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Capt. Francis J. Dunn, our next commander was teaching ing school at the time he onlisted, and was, then in his 24th year ind single. The school was located among a nest of Cop- perheads, and excitement ran high. Often these Copperheads would turn out and cheer for Jeff. Davis as the teacher was on his way to and from school. Forbearance ceased to be a virtue and throwing up his school he enlisted as a pri- vate, but on the election of officers he was made 2nd Ser- geant and, step by step, was promoted until on February 28th, 1863, he was commis- sioned Captain. This posi- tion he held until mustered out, Oct. 24th, 1864, having served over three years. In a recent letter the Captain says: "It has not been my Kellogg Co 8 € privilege to see the old flag CAPTAIN F. J. DUNN. since I left the service, but I possess a highly prized memento of it; the bronze spear was shot off the staff, broken at its shank, at the battle of Allatoona; it fell at my feet, but was not to be left on rebel soil. It can be seen by the boys lying on my parlor table." The Captain now lives at Minden, Neb.
Our next and last Captain was John T. Cuzzins, who en- listed and served several years as private, then promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant and was in command of the company after the resignation of Capt. Dunn, and was mustered out with the company as Captain.
Of our 1st Lieutenants little is known. Elliott resigned in 1862; Kitchen resigned July, 1864; much of the time of his service he was on detached duty. He is dead.
John S. Winbigler will be remembered by all, for he was always with the company. Enlisting among the first as a pri-
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vate was promoted from time to time until he was mustered out with the company as 1st Lieutenant. He lives at Gerlaw, Warren county, III.
Among our 2nd Lieutenants we note Jonas D. Corwin, who was killed at Corinth, in October, '62. His name finds a place in the great roll of honor of the nation. Philip S. Doug- lass enlisted as a private and on Feb. 28, '63, was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant and remained with the company until Oct. 28, '61, when he resigned, having served over three years.
Wm. Brownlee, or "Billy" as he was familiarly called, enlisted with the boys as a private at the organization of the company ; he was then in his 25th year, a single man and a farmer. In July '68, he was promoted to 2nd Sergeant and after the promotion of Winbigler he acted as Orderly to the close of the war. About the time of muster out he was com- missioned as Lieutenant but never mustered. He lives at Ha- worth, Kansas.
Edwin W. Beetly, first comes to mind. A round faced, rosy cheeked farmer lad of 20 when he enlisted; was always one of the neatest soldiers in the company ; a quiet, christian disposition. Ed. was handy with needle and thread and be- came quite a tailor during his four years service. We find, however, in the regimental order book, Special Order No. 5S, in December, '62, a regimental court martial was ordered to try Ed. for some misdemeanor, but he was acquitted. We also find in Special Orders Nos. 12 and 32, 1865, he received special men- tion and was excused from duty for soldierly appearance and fine condition of gun and accoutrements on inspection. He re- enlisted and was mustered out with the regiment.
Then comes Charley Blinde, who served from start to finish, as did also John Carle. Amos Dodd will be remembered as one of the "stoten-bottles," as we called the boys who did not re-enlist. Then comes that soft spoken, grand soldier, Jasper J. Greenlee, who used to build our bake ovens and then make the bread and pies. Then comes "Lengthy," as we called him, S. A. Hogue, the tallest man in the company ; no better soldier ever lived. He died in 1893, at Monmouth Illinois. John
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Hess, always ready for duty and his gun ready for inspection. Cornelius V. Johnson, brave and noble boy he was. The last time he was seen by any member of the company was as we marched through the streets of Columbia, he rode up to the company, (he was then detailed as special courier at division headquarters, ) and distributed a cady of tobacco among the boys. Two days later he was reported as captured and killed. George R. Logan enlisted as private, but soon was promoted to Sergeant and served to the wind up. George was next to the tallest man in the company, and ready at all times for duty or rations, respected by all. a gallant soldier and a good citizen. He now lives at Red Oak, Iowa. Henry Line, one of our Color Corporals; there never was a better red headed soldier in the war than Henry. Then John Laird, who can forget him, the most boisterous man in the company ; he is the fellow who used to make fun of the boys who reported on the sick list or went to the hospital with a flesh wound, but John got this all knocked out of him at Allatoona, where he got a flesh wound in the leg and fooled with it until gangrene set in and John got on his back in the hospital at Rome; he got well however, and stuck to old glory and the boys to the end. John M. Marks, better remem- bered as John M. "By God Sir.". John was the smallest man among the first enlistment; never got any larger, and remains just the same to-day; but no better or braver soldier ever shoul- dered a musket.
Then comes G. W. Mohler, "our George;" always looked well and acted well ; was considered the ladies man of the com- pany, but could keep up his end in the ranks. He and David C. McGee usually bunked together and wrote to the same girl back in Warren county. Corporal Pike that little hero who gave up his life at Allatoona, will always live in the memory of company I. A Post of the Grand Army in Kansas is named after him. Perry Quinn will be remembered as Corporal; he wasn't the handsomest man, but no truer soldier could be found ; and there is another Corporal that you won't forget, O. A. Rusk. That don't sound just right. "Obadoch." that's him, and Cor- porals Gus Thomas and Daniel J. Underwood, any one of these
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boys were competent to command a regiment. Then there was John Smith, and John Staley, and Hiram Swiler, or "Yuton," for short; and when it came time for rations, there was one other member of company I that was always in demand, Serg't A. M. Thompson, or "Andy" as we called him, never had com- pany a better Commissary Sergeant. See him as he di- vides up the rations when we were on quarter allowance; look at those little piles of crackers spread around on that old poncho; see Andy take up the remaining crack- ers, when they would not go one apiece around, and again break them in half and see that every fellow had his ex- act share; look at him as ho sizes up the little piece of sow bosom and with that old butcher-knife marks it off. He was particular because he SERG'T A. M. THOMPSON. was just to a fault, and as mild tempered asa woman ; a true christian, exemplifying it in · all his acts. He was attending school when he enlisted, was in his 20th year and enlisted as a private but in 1862 was made a Corporal and in '63 was promoted to Sergeant, re-enlisted and served to the final muster-out; was mentioned in Special Orders No. 12 at Goldsborough and excused from duty for a number of days for neat appearance and clean gun and accoutrements. There is not a comrade of the company but that is indebted to Thompson for many kind favors. He lives at Piper City, Ills
Last among the first enlistments, but not least by any means, comes our two drummer boys, H. M. Shepherd and Wm. H. Steeley, little curly-headed Bill, who got so deaf he couldn't hear the discharge of a cannon. Bill was the pet of the regi- ment, and the last year of his service acted as news-boy, and
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seemed to have the freedom of every camp. He was mustered out at Rome, in September. 04. Little Bill died at Elmwood, Illinois, several years ago. Shepherd veteraned and stayed with the regiment until the final muster-out; was on the march to the sea, up through the Carolinas and on the grand review at Washington, and the prize drill at Louisville. He now lives at Manhattan, Kas.
The story of the days at Lynnville, Tenn., of how the boys re-enlisted, their trip home and return, is told in the regi- mental history, but when they returned there went with them twenty-two recruits; of the number nineteen were boys in their teens; eleven of them under eighteen and six of the eleven under sixteen years; yet under the care of the old veterans these boys were soon versed in the ways of war. Little did they dream that first bitter cold night in February, as they learned to spoon together to keep warm in those bunks in that old bar- racks at Quincy, or on reaching Nashville, where they were escorted to Hotel Zollicoffer. and received their first dose of grey-backs, that all this was but a faint introduction of what was to follow for the next ffteen months, but so it was for from that time on the Fiftieth was in active service. If at first these new recruits furnished amusement for the older vets. because of their awkward movements in drill and their inabil- ity to look out for No. 1 at the mess-table, they soon got over this, for they proved apt sebolars in the hands of experienced teachers. They soon learned the ways of war.
The first on the roll of recruits comes Appleby, then Ar- nold, little Bill Arnold, soon became sick and in October was discharged for disability.
Then comes O. H. Crafter. the youngest member of the company, and the smallest too, but always answered "here" when the roll was called. He was a school boy attending the city school at Monmouth. First enlisted in May 1863, and again in December same year. both times taken out by his father and given a good licking finally, however, his parents gave their consent. and un -: the especial charge of Chaplain Bigger, he was enlisted as a veruit in company I, when they
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were at home on veteran furlough in February '64. Coulter was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 13th, 1847. At the time of his enlistment being just past his 16th year; weighed 94 pounds, and not of the regulation heighth, what he lacked in size was made up in pluck. His name appears on the sick call once during his service; on that occasion his ailment was a desire to get excused from guard duty at Rome, hoping thereby to go with the com- pany on a foraging expedition. The Doctor, however, was on to the racket and gave the boy a half-pint of castor oil and made him take it in his presence.
In the 47-4 days service he was not ab- sent from his company except when on duty or special detail. Slightly wounded once and captured once, but got away before he was missed from the command. He bore the nick-name of "Heavy Set," on account of his size. He participated with the company in all its engagements and marches and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 13. '65. Now lives at Topeka, Kansas; is the owner O. H. COULTER. and publisher of the Western Veteran of Kansas City, Mo., the only soldier paper in the west : is prom- inent in Grand Army circles, having been a Post Commander. for five years, Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Kansas, and the present Inspector General.
Clements, James B., will be remembered as among the tall, sickly boys of the company, always ready for duty how- ever when able for it. Was taken sick at Rome and sent to the hospital, from there he was sent north and did not get back to the regiment until we reached Goldsborough, N. C. While on detached service he participated in the battle of Kinston, N. C. He now lives at Hay Springs, Neb.
Matthew S. Claybaugh. better known as "Teeth," and Ent. G. O. The fellow who could plow up more stumps with
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FIFTIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
his feet than the entire company. Then long John Gallian, these boys were all odd in their way.
Then little "Bob. Wha," as we called R. J. Hogue, always ready for duty and for grub. His nick-name was given him at Moreysville, Ala. ; while on picket one night and sleeping along side a rail fence Bob. dreamed he saw a coon on the fence and raised up yelling out "wha, wha, rack coon." He now lives at Tingley, Iowa.
Robert Haughey, the largest among the recruits, was first to sicken, and died at Rome, Aug. 11th, '64.
Hoffman was discharged for disability, and Bob. Legget served to the end, as did also Jeremiah Mohler. Jerry as we called him, was one of. the kids, he could eat more fried crack- ers than any four men in the company, unless it was Jim. Mon- roe.
The members of company I will remember Wm. S. Mar- tin, or Scott, as he was called. The life of a soldier did not agree with him and he spent a good portion of his time in the hospital while at Rome, but he stayed to the finish and was mustered out with the company. He has been dead some years
John Mahaffey, the red headed boy, was a good soldier and kept a neat gun for which he received mention in special orders. Andy Ralston too, was equal to any emergency, and never missed a turn of guard. "Mother Ono Thumb" was the name given to Daniel Taylor. He could handle a mess kettle better than a gun, and was kept at it most of the time.
. Round shouldered Tom. Wilson, and among the last comes George Wagaman, who was severely wounded at Alla- toona, and who was afterwards transferred to the Veteran Re- serve Corps and mustered out at Rock Island, Ill., June 19, '65.
There are many others of the company deserving of men- tion. The company roster will record their names; in closing however we add a few personal reminiscences.
Captain Dunn was in many respects a strict disciplina- rian, but he believed in making war felt as the following inci- dent will verify :
While at Lynnville, Tenn., the command lived on the fat
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of the land. John Laird, Charley Blind and John W. Staley could bring in more honey in one night than the company could use in a week. The land literally flowed with milk and honey ; but it is a true saying that everything earthly has an end. On dress parade one evening Colonel Hanna caused an order to be read whereby any soldier found foraging would be arrested and court martialed with loss of three months pay. Here was a pretty state of things. Consternation reigned, but the three foragers, waiting until darkness had come, slipped round to the Captain and in a low tone said: "What are we going to do?" To which the Captain replied, "Don't come to me. Do? Why do just as you have been doing, and as I am tired I believe I will turn in.2 The next morning a fine porker was neatly skinned and hanging in camp, and in due time a ham, nicely trimmed, found its way to the Colonel's tent with the com- pliments of company I. The next day riding through the camp the Colonel raised his hat and said "thank you, company I." And this ended the order; a most wise and righteous con- clusion.
The passenger on the Western & Atlantic Railway, as he goes whirling into Allatoona , Georgia, from the north, will. as his train enters the deep cut, notice upon the west side of the track, a lone grave. For years past the track hands of the road have held the grave under their special charge and made attention to it a sacred duty. They see that it is kept clear of rub- bish and that the head and foot stones are firm in their THE LONE GRAVE. place. A neat marble head- stone has been placed in position on which is the following in- scription :
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AN
UNKNOWN HERO.
He died for the cause he thought was right."
Around this lone resting place of one unknown and un- named, poetry and romance have united in loving and commem- . orative endeavor-at times men and women have bedewed and decked the silent dust with tears and flowers.
Who the soldier was has always been locked in a mystery deemed unanswerable this side of death's flowing river. It is believed that company I holds the key to that mystery, as near- Ty so at least as it over can be, as will appear by an extract from a letter written by E. W. Beetley of company I. He writes :
"At the battle of Allatoona, when the rebels had retreat- ed, Comrade George Mohler and myself were going over the field we heard some one making a noise in a thicket of blackberry bushes, I said to Comrade Mohler "there is some one in there that is hurt, let's go and see." So we went and found a rebel who claimed to be the Adjutant of the 35th Mississippi. He had a U. S. sword belt on, and had a new Enfield rifled musket lying by his side. I took the belt from him and, I think Moh- ler took the gun. I afterwards gave the belt to our Captain, F. J. Dunn. We took the wounded man and carried him out and laid him near the railroad track. I think he was wounded in both legs."
In order to made assurance doubly sure in this matter Comrade Beetley was requested to draw, as near as possible, an outline sketch of the place where found and that portion of the track to which the wounded soldier was carried. This he did and his locations are identical with that of the grave.
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COMPANY K.
A I T the close of the term of service of the Marion Battalion, United States Reserve Corps, of Hannibal, Mo., Lieut. T. D. MeGillicuddy, (who had secured authority from Gen John C. Fremont to organize a company for the war,) and 1st
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